Eight Arrested Outside Obama Chicago Campaign HQ As NATO Protests Begin

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 14, 2012 4:40PM

Photo via NBCChicago.com

It's NATO week here in Chicago and already we have our first arrests related to protests of the May 20-21 summit.

Eight protesters were arrested at the Prudential Building this morning after they refused to clear out of the lobby. The Prudential Building also happens to house the Chicago headquarters of the Obama re-election campaign. Around 8:30 a.m. this morning, dozens of protesters organized by the Catholic Worker movement picketed on Prudential Plaza, then attempted to enter the building. Building security locked the revolving doors, but protesters pushed past a guard at a side door.

A dozen uniformed Chicago police officers entered the building as the protesters read a prepared statement. The protesters then left the building except for the eight who were arrested; they were thanked by their fellow protesters as they were led away in handcuffs. they'll likely be charged with criminal trespassing.

Catholic Workers groups from at least 10 states are in Chicago for the NATO summit to protest what they're calling a "Week Without Capitalism:" nonviolent protests of the summit and the G8 summit at Camp David, Md. Later this afternoon, members of Occupy Chicago are expected to protest in support of more public school funding, and a protest for immigration reform is currently in progress. The increase in protests has already led to a greater police presence along Michigan Avenue.